Temporary foreign workers (TFWs) who work in the agriculture, agri-food, and fish and seafood sectors will be exempt from the requirement to stay in a Government Authorized Accommodation, the Canadian government announced in a news release on March 16.
“Foreign agricultural workers are absolutely essential to the successful operations of our farms, our food plants, and, as a result, our food security. We are doing everything necessary so they can arrive as scheduled and in a way that is safe for their health and the health of Canadian,” Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of agriculture and agri-food says in the release.
TFWs arriving in the country after March 21 will have their quarantine requirements decided based on a two-pronged approach, the release says. Asymptomatic TFWs will be able to travel directly to their place of quarantine after getting a COVID-19 test at the airport provided they travel by private transportation and are accompanied only by others who travelled with them to Canada.
TFWs who will need to travel by public means to a secondary location upon arrival in Canada will be required to stay in a GAA and await the results of their COVID-19 test. Provided TFWs have a suitable quarantine plan and safe transportation arranged to their place of quarantine, the government intends to ensure employers and TFWs will not assume incremental costs associated with the three-day quarantine requirement at the point of entry. Workers will also be provided with supports on arrival and during their hotel stay.
